Counting machine



c. B. MAXSON COUNTING MACHINE Jan. 5, 1932.

Filed April 29, 1926 Patented Jan. 5. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE CHARLES B. MAISON, OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JULIAN W. MAXSON, OI WEBTERLY, RHODE ISLAND COUNTING MACHINE Application filed April 29, um. Serial No. 105,505;

The present invention relates to counting machines, and more particularly to machines for countin sheets of paper or the like in a stack or pile of the sheets.

5 .The chief object of the invention is to improve upon machines of the above-described character. Other objects will appear hereinafter and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view of a modification of Fig. 1.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred form as applied to the counting of sheets of paper in a stack or pile 2. The sheets4 are first fed, in lapped relation, from beneath the pile in any well-known manner, as, for example, by the mechanism illustrated and described in Patent No. 690,167 granted December 31, 1901. In the beginning, the speed of travel of the sheets in the table 5 is comparatively low. As soon as the head 6 of each sheet reaches the bite of two feed rolls 8 and 10, these rolls increase the speed of travel of the sheets. At this increased speed, but preferably still in so lapping relation, the sheets are fed by tapes v 12 into a lay-boy 14.

Prior to the sheets reaching the rolls 8 and 10, each sheet is engaged by a roll 16.

The roll 16 is pivoted to rotate at one end 17 of a link or links 18, the other end of which is pivoted at 20. The link or links 18 are thus free to pivot in opposite directions about the point 20, permitting oscillation of the roll 16. The roll 16 is continuously driven from any desired source, as from a motor 22 that drives a shaft, not shown, the

axis of which coincides with the pivot and that is connected with the roll 16 by suitable gearing The speed of travel of the periphery of the roll 16 is somewhere between the low speed and the high speed of travel of the sheets. If the sheets are fed out from the stock 2 at a speed of fifty feet per minute, for example, and if this speed is increased by the rolls 8 and 10 to 150 feet per minute, it is convenient to have-the surface speed of the roll 16 at about feet per minute.

When the roll 16 is first engaged by a sheet, therefore, it is traveling much faster than the sheet. Assuming that the roll is rotating in the direction of the arrow, it will swing over to the left about the pivot 20,

and it will remain at its extreme position to the left, just barely out of contact with the sheet. When the speed of the sheet is increased, on the other hand, it will be traveling faster than the surface speed of the roll, and the latter will then swing over to the right. The roll will thus swing back and forth about the pivot 20 once for each sheet that is fed forward out of the stock 2 and into the lay-boy 14. To count the number of sheets so fed, therefore, all that is necessary is to count the number of swings of the roll 16. A convenient construction com rises an arm 26 that is fast to the link. or linlis 18, so as to .swing therewith, and that is connected by a lever 28 to a counter 30.

The counter 30 thus counts the number of changes in the speed of travel of the sheets 4 or whatever other traveling means is engaged by the traveling periphery of the roll 16. The invention is therefore adapted to wider uses than to counting the number of overlapping sheets illustrated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the invention is shown applied to the counting of sheets 32 that are fed in'spaced-apart relation at 34 over high-speed tapes 36. Each sheet 32 will cause the roll 16 to swing to the right, and the roll 16 will be maintained in its right-hand position until the sheet has passed the point 3 1. It will then swing back to the illustrated position. But to actuate the counter, it is necessary to swing the roll 16 beyond the illustrated position, to the left. This may readily be efi'ected in any desired way, as by having the roll 16 engage a roll 38, rotating in the opposite direction. Assuming that the sheets 32 are fed at the rate of feet per minute, and the periphery of the roll 16 at 100 feet per minute, as in the case of Fig. 1, the surface speed of the roll 38 may be 50 feet per minute. The roll 38, will, of course, be stationed to one side of the tapes 36, so as not to interfere with the travel of the sheets 32.

Other modifications, too, will readily occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means adapted to travel at speeds respectively below and above a predetermined speed, means operable at the predetermined speed for counting the number of changes of speed of the traveling means, and means for continuously operating the third-named means.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a first means adapted to travel at each of two speeds, a second means for causing the traveling means to travel at one of the two speeds, a third means for causing the traveling means to travel at the other of the two speeds and for presenting the traveling means to the first-named causing means, a fourth means controlled by the changes in the speed of travel of the traveling means from one of the two speeds to the other of the two speeds for counting the number of the said changes in speed, and means for continuously operating the fourth means at a speed intermediate the two first-named speeds.

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material at each of two speeds, actuable means operated at a third speed between the two speeds and adapted to be engaged by the material, whereby the actuable means is caused to be actuated in different directions by engagement with the material as the material changes from one of the two speeds to the other of the two speeds, and means controlled by the actuable means for counting the number of the said changes in speed.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means adapted to travel at speeds respectively above and below a predetermined speed, and actuable means operated at the predetermined speed and adapted to be engaged by the traveling means, whereby the actuable means is caused to be actuated first in one direction and then in another direction by engagement with the traveling means as the traveling means changes its speed of travel above and below the predetermined speed, and means controlled by the actuable means for counting the number of the said changes of speed.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means adapted to travel past a predetermined point at speeds respectively above and below a predetermined speed, means normally located at the point and operated at the predetermined speed and freely movable in opposite directions in the path of travel of the traveling means and ada ted to be engaged by the traveling means, w ereby the freely movable means is caused to be actuated in opposite directions by engagement with the traveling means as the traveling means changes its speed of travel above and below the redetermined speed, and means controlled y the freely movable means for countin the number of changes in the speed of travel of the "traveling means at the pre determined point.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means freely movable in opposite directions, means for actuating a portion of the said means in QIIQdlIGCtlOIl only at a predetermined speed during the movement of the freely movable means in the said opposite direction, and means adapted to travel in contactwith the portion at speeds respectively above and below the predetermined speed, whereby the freely movable means will be moved in the said opposite directions in accordance with the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the predetermined speed.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means freely movable in opposite directions, means for actuating a portion of the said means in one direction only at a predetermined speed during the movement of the freely movable means in the said opposite direction, means adapted to travel in contact with the portion at speeds respectively above and below the predetermined speed, whereby the freely movable means will be moved in the said opposite directions in accordance with the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the predetermined speed, and means controlled by the movement of the freely movable means in the said opposite directions for counting the number of changes in the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the predetermined s eed.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a roll, means for continuously rotating the roll, the roll being freely movable bodily in the direction of its rotation and in the opposite direction, and means adapted to travel in contact with the periphery of the roll in the direction of the rotation of the roll at speeds respectively above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll, whereby the roll will be moved bodily in the said direction of its rotation and in the said opposite direction in accordance with the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a link one end of which is freely pivotally movable about the axis of the shaft, a roll rotatably mounted upon the link, means for driving the roll from the shaft at a predetermined speed, means adated to travel in contact with the periphery 0 the roll in the direction of pivotal movement of the link at speeds respectively above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the 1011, whereby the roll will'be pivoted bodily about the axis of the shaft in the said direction and in the opposite direction in accordance with the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll. and means controlled by the movement of the link in the said opposite directions for counting the number of changes in the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll.

10. A machine of the class described having. in combination, means for feeding each of a pluralit of articles past a predetermined point rst at one speed and then at a second speed, means normally situated at the point and operated at an intermediate speed and adapted to be actuated by engagement with each article first in one direction and r then in another direction as the articles and controlled by changes in the speed of travel of the sheets for counting the number of sheets fed.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding a plurality of sheets in lapped relation at relatively low speed, means for increasing the speed of travel of the sheets while the sheets are maintained in lapped relation, and means controlled by changes in the speed of travel of thesheets for counting the number of sheets fed.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding a plurality of sheets in lapped relation at relatively low speed past a predetermined point, means for increasing the speed of travel of each sheet after it has passed the point while the sheets are maintained in lapped relation, and means at the point control ed by changes in the speed of travel of the sheets for counting the number of sheets fed past the point.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding a plurality of sheets past a predetermined point at a. predetermined speed, means for feeding the sheets past a second predetermined point at a second predetermined speed, a roll adapted to be engaged by the sheets, means for continuously rotating the roll at a speed between the predetermined speeds, the roll being freely movable bodily in the direction of travel of the sheets and in the op osite direction, whereby the roll will move reely in the said opposite directions in accordance with first in one direction and then in another direction as the articles change their speed, and

means controlled by the intermediate-speed ifneians for counting the number of articles 16. A machine of, the class described having, in combination, means adapted to travel at each of two speeds, a member movable at a speed between the said two speeds, means whereby the m'ember'en ages the traveling means before, during and after the traveling means is caused to change speed, whereby the member will be caused to travel back and forth over the traveling means, and means controlled by the back-and-forth travels of the member for counting the changes in the speed of travel of the traveling means.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding a plurality of sheets at each of two speeds, a member movable at a speed between the said two speeds, means whereby the member engages each sheet before, during and after the speed of the sheet is changed, whereby the member will be caused to travel back and forth over the sheet, and means controlled by the backand-forth travels of the member for counting the number of sheets fed.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a roll, means for continuously rotating the roll, the roll being freely movable bodily in the direction of its rotation and in the opposite direction, means adapted to travel in contact with the periphery of the roll in the direction of the rotation of the roll at speeds respectively above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll, whereby the roll will be moved bodily in the said direction of its rotation and in the said opposite direction in accordance with the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll, and means controlled by the movement of the roll in the said opposite directions for counting the number of changes. in the speed of travel of the traveling means above and below the speed of travel of the periphery of the roll.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding a plurality of sheets in lapped relation at different speeds past a predetermined point, and means controlled by the changes in the speed of travel of the sheets for counting the number of sheets fed.

20. A machine of the class described havin in combination, means for feeding a plura ity'of sheets in lapped relation at a predetermined speed past a predetermined point, means for changing the speed of travel of each sheet after it has passed the point while the sheets are maintained in lapped relation,

and means at the point controlled by the changes in speed of travel of the sheets for counting the number of sheets fed past the point.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means freely movable bodily in opposite directions, means for actuating a portion of the said means in one direction only at a predetermined speed during the movement of the freely movable means in the said opposite directions, a plurality of separate means a portion of each of which is adapted to travel in contact with the firstnamed portion in the said one direction at a predetermined speed above the first-named predetermined speed, whereby the freely movable means will be moved bodily in the said one direction, means controlled by the passage of each of the said portions for moving the freely movable means bodily in the 9pposite direction, and means controlled by the movement of the freely movable means in the said opposite directions for counting the number of the said plurality of separate means.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a roll, means for continuously rotating the roll, the roll being freely movable bodily in the direction of its rotation and in the opposite direction, a plurality of separate means a portion of each of which is adapted to travel in contact with the periphery of the roll in the direction of the rotation of the roll at a predetermined speed above the speed of travel of the periphcry of the roll, whereby the roll will be moved bodily in the said direction of its rotation, means controlled by the passage of each of the said portions for moving the roll bodily in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the movement of the roll in the said i opposite directions for counting the number of the said plurality of separate means.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding a plurality of sheets, means for changing the speed of travel of the sheets, the feeding means being constructed and arranged to feed the sheets directly to the speed-changing means, and means engaged by the sheets and responsive to changes in the speed of travel of the sheets for counting the number of sheets fed, the last-named means being 0 erable to count the sheets without feeding t cm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES B. MAXSON. 

